In November of 2015, then-President Obama signed the NDAA for Fiscal year 2016 into law with language that authorized the Secretary of Defense to transfer 1911s no longer in service to the CMP for public sale. That language made the transfers subject to the Secretary’s discretion and capped them at 10,000 per year. Unsurprisingly, no actual transfers were made under the program while Obama remained in the White House.

This year’s language, however, would effectively make the transfers mandatory and would remove the yearly cap. Currently, the military has some 100,000 excess 1911s sitting in storage at taxpayer expense. Transfer of these historically-significant firearms would ease a burden on the government’s heavily indebted balance sheet and help preserve important artifacts from the era when the U.S. military defended Western Civilization from worldwide fascism and aggressive Communist expansion.

The CMP’s sales of 1911s would be treated as other retail sales under the federal Gun Control Act, including the attendant background checks and point of sale record keeping. The design of the pistols dates back to the late 19th Century, and they come equipped with a seven-round magazine. One would think this would render the sales harmless in the eyes of the “reasonable gun safety regulation” crowd, but we’re not holding our breath.

The NRA thanks House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) and Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) for their steadfast support of this important provision.

Upon completion of the Senate NDAA, the House and Senate will convene a conference committee to resolve the differences in their bills. If you would like to see 1911 sales return to the CMP, please contact your U.S. Senators and Representative and urge them to keep the House language on this matter intact in the final bill they send to the president. You can contact Senators and Representative at 202-225-3121.

Brownells 1911 Catalog & Wilson Combat Sweepstakes Headline 1911 Week

For firearm enthusiasts, few things spark pride, passion and patriotism more than a 1911, be it finely polished or marked and marred by experience. To pay homage to John Moses Browning’s timeless pistol design, Brownells is committing an entire week to “America’s Handgun.”

The newest edition is an 82-page, all-things-1911 book featuring thousands of products from sights and optics, to ammunition, slides, frames, gunsmithing tools and much more. Virtually anything needed to build, customize, clean or repair a 1911 can easily be found with a quick scroll through the index.

In addition to the catalog, Brownells will kick off “1911 Week” with the Brownells/Wilson Combat 1911 Dream Gun Sweepstakes. The sweepstakes will feature a Wilson Combat 1911 CQB Commander model, chambered in .45 ACP. This incredible firearm is valued at $3,600.

Customers may enter the sweepstakes, view the firearm, and see full contest rules at Brownells.com/WilsonCombat1911. The sweepstakes end on April 17, 2016.

“The 1911 is certainly one of America’s most treasured firearm platforms,” said Brownells’ President Matt Buckingham. “To coincide with the release of our newest 1911 catalog, we wanted to get customers excited by running a sweepstakes for a Brownells/Wilson Combat Dream Gun. Wilson Combat has been a great partner over the years; I’m positive someone will be thrilled to win this great firearm.”

Rounding out Brownells 1911 Week will be special offers and deals on 1911-related products. Customers should stay tuned to Brownells.com all week for specifics.